Moms swim in style for a cause

Catherine Repton, left, gets a lift up from her mother, Cindy Vega, after falling backwards in the ocean Sunday north of Oceanside Pier, as the two were joined by about 40 other women, including Jeanie Radakovich and her daughter Tilly Radakovich in the sixth annual Fancy Dress Swim for Malaria. Ma

Peggy Peattie

Catherine Repton, left, gets a lift up from her mother, Cindy Vega, after falling backwards in the ocean Sunday north of Oceanside Pier, as the two were joined by about 40 other women, including Jeanie Radakovich and her daughter Tilly Radakovich in the sixth annual Fancy Dress Swim for Malaria. Mandatory photo credit: Peggy Peattie/UT San Diego/ZUMA Press; Copyright U-T

Catherine Repton, left, gets a lift up from her mother, Cindy Vega, after falling backwards in the ocean Sunday north of Oceanside Pier, as the two were joined by about 40 other women, including Jeanie Radakovich and her daughter Tilly Radakovich in the sixth annual Fancy Dress Swim for Malaria. Mandatory photo credit: Peggy Peattie/UT San Diego/ZUMA Press; Copyright U-T (Peggy Peattie)

A traditional Mother’s Day morning might include breakfast in bed, or mimosas at a favorite restaurant. But on an Oceanside beach, a group of women decided to celebrate the holiday by swimming for a cause — while wearing fancy dresses.

Moms, daughters and grandmothers dressed to the nines hit the surf during the sixth annual Mother’s Day Fancy Dress Swim Sunday morning. Proceeds are donated to the Against Malaria Foundation. The organization helps put on a variety of swim events that raise money for insecticide-treated nets, which are used to prevent malaria — a deadly mosquito-borne disease. Last year, the event raised about $2,000. Founder Marlaine Cover, 54, said about 250 nets can be purchased for $1,000.

“To have different, you have to do different, and we’re doing different today,” she said of the snazzy affair. “It’s a great way to spend your Mother’s Day morning.”

Fancy dress swim 2014

Cover said she created the swim after her daughter sent her a link to the website one.org. The organization champions a series of goals, one of which is fighting extreme illness.

“At that time, the equivalent of seven jumbo jets full of children were dying every day of malaria,” she said. “That just moved me beyond description. And it’s preventable.”

More than 1,500 children still die everyday from the disease, according to the World Health Organization, but insecticide-treated nets are saving lives. Since 2000, mortality rates have fallen by a third in Africa — a continent hit particularly hard by the sickness.

More than three dozen women attended the swim, and each wore an eye-catching garment. There were little black dresses, floor-length gowns, sequined bodices, ruffled skirts and strapless styles. The attire was glamorous, even when wet.

Sue Kraus, 56, has been getting dolled up to take a morning dip on Mother’s Day since the fancy dress swim started. She wanted to help raise awareness for worldwide issues, including malaria. But this year’s event holds a special significance for Kraus and her daughter — and Peace Corps volunteer — Becca Verlaque. The 23-year-old is currently in the West African country of Senegal where she teaches families how to care for bed nets and how to know when to replace them.

“It’s kind of full circle that we can be helping buy the bed nets and she can be helping families to use them,” Kraus said.

It was a special year for Cover, too. For the first time since she created the swim, her mother was able to attend. Cover said she first registered the swim on her mom’s birthday.

“She’s the most inspirational person I’ve ever meant,” she said with tears in her eyes. “I wanted to recognize her in a special way.”

She wasn’t the only daughter proud of her mom. Cover’s daughter, Ari, said she’s always excited to tell people how she and her mom spend the holiday.

“It means a lot that she chooses to spend the day that’s supposed to be about her to focus on other people,” she said. “It makes me proud.”

If you missed the swim, but still want to donate to the cause, visit www.WorldSwimAgainstMalaria.com/MothersDay2014.